Chapter 2 The Masquerade Ball

Jaque POV

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I woke up, jolting on my bed when I heard my alarm on my bedside table ring, followed by my best friend's call on my phone.

"Hah?! I said just an hour's rest!" I grumbled while groping the alarm. My eyes were still shut, and as I opened them and checked the time, I hastily got up and took my phone. "Hello, Kelly!"

"Finally, you answered. I've been texting you, girl!" Kelly grunted. "Where are you? You're late for school, baby!"

I groaned. "I know. I was just tired!" I muttered while taking out my PE uniform from the drawer. "I woke up early to clean the whole house!" dragging my feet to the bathroom, my slippers were scratching the floor.

I heard a sigh from the other line before Kelly spoke. "I know. That so-called family of yours is horrible. Hurry up now. I asked Andrew to pick you up. Maybe he's on his way!"

"Okay! I just uttered before ending the call. Andrew was Kelly's older brother and the future beta of this pack. Just like Adam, he was also as handsome as I could remember, but their attitude was different from each other. While Adam was a bit temperamental, Andrew was calm and cool. I thought that's the main reason why Alpha Drake chose Andrew to replace my father someday.

It only took me less than 30 minutes to ready for school. I guessed being an ultimate servant of this house gave me that training. Most of the time, I was called to do stuff even at midnight, just like today when Lauren ordered me to clean the whole house at 5 AM. She didn't care that I had classes at 9, and it was even our exam week.

When I arrived in front of the house, Lauren stopped me. "Hey, Jaque! You don't have to wait for us tonight!" she uttered while holding a pair of pointy-toe pumps covered with crystals. "We're gonna be late!" I just nodded as she walked into the house. I could tell that pair of shoes were for Jasmine. They were indeed preparing her for the Luna title.

"Hmp! In her dreams!" I might be a little bit fierce to speak that out loud, but only when no one was listening. I strode to the gate, and just in time when I saw Andrew's Range Rover parked in. I waved back when he raised his hand on the window.

"Hop in. Hurry up, now. I have to go to the pack house after!" I groaned at his demanding aura today.

"What's up?!" I asked as I buckled up without looking at him. My focus was on the road.

"Too many things to do. Adam just arrived an hour early!" shifting my wide gaze at him made him chuckle. "What's the matter now, Jaque? Is there something wrong with my face?"

"No! There's absolutely nothing wrong. Alpha Adam is already here in the pack?!" asking for confirmation, and Andrew just nodded. How I wished I could skip classes today.

Upon arriving in front of the main gate of Blood Moon High School, I hastily got out of Andrew's car and ran to the entrance. I showed the guards my student ID before going to my 2nd period. It was a good thing I had my exam in my 1st period yesterday.

"Hey!" Kelly called me. She was already inside the classroom reviewing our lesson when I arrived and sat beside her. "Are you going to the ball?" she whispered.

"How come I didn't know that, and you do?" I asked, raising my brows at her.

"Andrew told me. Don't tell me your family didn't tell you about it!" she gasped.

"Like you don't know what am I to them. I'm not their so-called family, I am more like their servant!" I hissed and glanced at the entrance door. Our professor was here.

"Yeah! You're right!" Kelly sighed and sat straight. "So, are you going?" she questioned again without looking at me.

"I am, and it's a secret. It's only you who knew about my plan. Don't tell anyone about it!" I sideglanced at my best friend and saw the spark in her eyes.

"Prison break, huh?! I'm so in. I'll pick you up at 8!" she sneered.

"Why eight?" I asked, surprised. The ball would start at 7.

"Girl, dramatic entrance is the best!" yeah! she was right. So, the plan was set. Kelly and I would go to the masquerade ball at eight!

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Ten minutes before eight, Kelly's red Porsche stopped in front of the gate. I held the hem of my dress high while carrying my strapped sandals. I was wearing sneakers temporarily and planned to take them off in the car. I was pretty sure Kelly was doing the same thing since she was the driver.

"Girl, you're simply beautiful!" Kelly excitedly said while staring at me from head to toe. I was wearing nothing special, only the pearl necklace and earrings I inherited from my mom. I also tied my auburn hair in a bun, leaving some strands dangling on both sides of my ears.

"You're strikingly beautiful as well!" I told her the truth. Kelly liked baby pink since we were little, and now she was wearing her branded color; a romantic floral applique tulle mermaid dress. Her long blonde hair cascaded beautifully on her back. Just like me, her only jewelry was her pearl earrings and a heart-shaped diamond necklace, which were both in baby pink.

"C'mon, babe!" she pushed the start button while I fastened my seatbelt. "Let's enjoy and meet our mates tonight!" I screamed in delight as her Porsche hit the road, feeling hopeful that this masquerade ball would change my fate in this pack.

"I can't wait to see Adam again!" I shouted out loud, letting my voice spread in the air.

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With Kelly's adept skill in driving, we arrived at the mansion at exactly eight. The ball, as expected, had already begun, but there were still some guests coming in the entrance. Lines of swanky cars were parked on the wide lawn and the side of the road. Kelly and I put on our shoes and masks first before we got out of her car.

"I've got an invitation from Andrew. I'll just tell the guard that you're my plus 1!" she whispered while we ambled elegantly to the door. When the guard saw the invitation, he let us in just like that.

My heart was racing fast upon seeing the guests inside. They were all sophisticated and glamorous. All had their own titles to be proud of. The huge and wide living room of Alpha Drake's enormous home was filled with werewolves and humans combined. A classical symphony from the orchestra pervaded the whole mansion, but nothing compared to the scent that suddenly hit my nostrils.

Freshly wet forest grass with a delicate balance of green, earthy, and slightly sweet notes; it was so addictive. I couldn't get enough of it.

"Where is that scent coming from?" I whispered and glanced at Kelly, who was wearing a light pink mask with a side feather and flower. But her expression looked like she was caught by someone else. She tapped my shoulder and left me in the middle of the crowd.

I, on the other hand, rummaged through the whole living room with my sight. I was searching for that scent that's giving me a frenzy now. "Where could you be, mate?" as I stepped closer, the aroma was getting stronger. Some guests were now staring at me.

I gradually lifted my head on the bifurcated stairs and finally saw the most gorgeous man alive. His strong hands were firmly holding the handrails. Though half of his face was covered with a black mask that had a frame of gold, his eyes gave him away. He was also staring at me.

I had no idea when I arrived upstairs, but I gasped in mixed emotions when his soft hand caressed my cheek and uttered the word I had been longing to hear since I turned 18 last month.

Mate!

"Hi...Hi!" I replied, my heart pounding erratically. His touch gave me a whole different world, a world of possessiveness and protection, of lust and love.

He didn't say anything. He was just gazing at me, smiling. My mouth went ajar when he licked his lips. Goddess, this was happening. My first kiss was my mate. As his lips brushed mine, I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach. He slid his tongue inside my mouth when he noticed I wasn't responding, not until he deepened his kiss that my hands seemed to have their minds on their own. They gradually wrapped around his head while tugging his silky soft black hair.

"Wanna get some privacy, my queen?" he mind-linked me, which meant he was from my pack. There was only one guy I had never met in this pack for a long time, and that was Adam.

Was this guy Adam? Was Adam my mate?

I nodded, still flabbergasted by my theory. Without any words, he carried me bridal style and brought me to one of the rooms on the second floor, ignoring the puzzled gazes of some of the guests. He opened a room from the corner with his foot while his gorgeous smile never left his mysterious face.

As he gently put me down, our mate bond erupted like an explosion, its heat scattered in the whole wide room. The heat of lust and longing. We were both in a hurry. He unzipped my dress while I unbuttoned his suit, then his shirt. He gasped when my dress dropped on the floor, making me half-naked in his sight.

"You're beautiful!" he uttered as he began kissing my neck while I busied myself from unzipping his trousers, my hand accidentally touching his hard-on.

I moaned when he sucked my breast. My brasserie and panties were already on the floor. My mate was a pro, and I was a f*cking beginner having my 1st time.

I gasped when I felt his d*ck on my stomach, and when he lifted my legs and wrapped them around his waist, I knew we should finish what we had started, there's no turning back.

Also, I wanted this. I knew even with his mask on and the darkness that covered the room, the one on top of me now was Adam. I could feel it in my heart.

Adam was my first and my mate!

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I woke up, still feeling drowsy and exhausted. That night was beyond words. It was magically amazing. I glanced at the man beside me. A gasp escaped my lips when I finally saw his face, and when he groaned and opened his eyes, I held my breath.

"Good morning, Adam!" I whispered, my voice was full of love.

"Good morning, my mate. My lovely....Jaque?!"

Why did he look surprised?!